Bib



Patented Aug. 1, i950 BIB Karl F. Schlegel, Jr., Penfield, N. Y.

Application May26, 1948, Serial No. 29,291

,The present invention relates to apparel and more particularly, thoughnot exclusively, to protective appurtenances for infants and children,and it has for its general object to provide an improved and eflicientbib to be attached to the person in the region of the neck and worn inthe usual manner but which will be slightly, durable, inexpensive tomanufacture, and which will comfortably maintain a correct positionwhile in use.

A further object of the invention is to so equip the bib that it willcatch and retain, instead of wholly shedding into the lap or on thefloor, both liquids and fragments of solid food such as crumbs andsmalledibles that may also thereby be retrieved.

These and other desirable objects are accomplished by the constructiondisclosed as an illustrative embodiment of the invention in thefollowing description and in the accompanying drawings forming a parthereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a bib constructed in accordance with andillustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section therethrough on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragment of the showing of Fig. 2 at the top edgeof the pocket, and

Fig. 4, n the same scale as that of Fig. 3, is a fragmentary rear viewof one of the joints between the pocket, its supporting element, and theapron body.

The same reference numerals throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

The major parts of the improved bib may be made of any suitable fabricor similar flexible material agreeable to the touch and both receptiveto cleaning and folding and to liquid resistance but thin plasticsheeting, as currently available on the market, is preferred. The backor body portion l of the illustrated embodiment is of sufiicient heightand width to protect the upper body, is reentrantly curved at the neckportion, and is there bound with a tape 3 stitched at 5 and the extendedends 1 are utilized as ties to suspend the bib from the neck. A pocketsheet 9 bridges the lower portion of the back or body sheet, the bottomand lateral edges of the two sheets being coincident, and this pocketsheet is slightly wider (or longer from side to side of Fig. 1) than isthe body sheet so that it has a natural fullness when the body sheet isflat. The overlying or coincident edges of the two sheets may bedescribed as proximate edges or adjacent edges. The edges of the bodysheet are fur- 6 Claims.

of the pocket sheet 9, and which is stitched to the sheet or sheets bylines of stitching. The binding tape ll meets the tape 3 at the neck.

The free upper edge of the pocket sheet 9 which, as explained, isadapted to stand away from the flatter body sheet located at its rear,may also have a tape binding, but it is preferred to form it with anintegral hem l5 stitched at IT. There isthreaded through this hem astiffening element l9 preferably in the form of a spring Wire bow havinga normal arcuate curvature but adapted to flex either way. The elementmay, alternatively, be of whalebone, or of a resilient plastic strip orrod, or of a resilient flat metal strip. The ends 2| are turnedlaterally of the plane of the bow, in the present instance downwardly,and are inserted respectively in portions of the binding H to occupy thesame and be concealed thereby. In making this latter connection the bowspring wire may be so nicely proportioned as to length as to remain freeof tension and still hold the body sheet substantially flat relativelyto the pocket. A slight outward flexing of the bow before the ends 2!are thrust into the binding will insure the desired degree of suchflatness of the body sheet.

In either event, the result is that the mouth of the pocket is held openat all times (unless collapsed for storage or shipping) which makes itconvenient for emptying or cleaning. When in place on the chest of thewearer with the tapes 1 tied about the neck the distended pocket is inposition to catch and retain crumbs, bits of food, liquids, or whatevermay fall from the region of the mouth and chin.

The initial or set curvature of the bow may be varied according to theparticular use, to the nature of the flexible material used for the bodyand pocket sheets, and the size and proportions of the intended wearer.

It is seen from the foregoing disclosure that the above-mentionedobjects of the invention are admirably fulfilled. It is to be understoodthat the foregoing disclosure is given by way of illustrative, exampleonly, rather than by way of limitation, and that without departing fromthe invention, the details may be varied within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bib, the combination with a body portion sheet having means forattaching its upper part to the person, of a pocket sheet spanning thelower portion thereof and slightly wider than the corresponding width ofthe body portion, a binding encompassing the proximate edges of the bodyand pocket sheets, the latter being provided with a hem at its top edge,and a bowed spring- Wire brace enclosed in the hem and having laterallyturned ends occupying portions of the binding to maintain the pocketopen and the body portion flattened.

2. A bib comprising a body sheet of liquid-impervious material adaptedto extend from the region of the wearers neck downwardly over thewearers chest, a pocket sheet of liquid-impervious material overlyingthe front face of the lower part of the body sheet, a binding tapefolded over and embracing the lateral edges of both the pocket sheet andthe body sheet for at least a substantial distance downwardly from theupper edge of said pocket sheet, and a forwardly bowed resilient elementextending across said pocket L sheet approximatel at the upper edgethereof to tend .to hold the upper edge of said pocket sheet, throughouta substantial part of its length, in forwardly-spaced relation to saidbody sheet to provide an open-top pocket for receiving refuse,

3. A bib including a body sheet adapted to extend over a portion of thechest of a wearer, a pocket sheet overlying the front face of the lowerpart of the body sheet, the side edges of the pocket .sheet beinglocated substantially at the side edges of the body sheet, a hem formedalong 4 the top edge of said pocket sheet, hems formed along the sideedges of said pocket and body sheets, and a forwardly bowed resilientelement extending along the top edge of said pocket sheet and embracedwithin said hem at said top edge, said resilient element having at itsends portions bent at a substantial angle to the main length of saidelement and extending approximatel vertically along and embraced withinsaid hems at said side edges, thereby to anchor said resilient elementand hold the main length thereof in forwardly bowed relation to said topedge of said pocket sheet.

4. A construction as defined in claim 3, in

. which said resilient element is formed of wire.

5'. A construction as defined in claim 4, in which said body sheet andsaid pocket sheet are formed of substantially liquid-impervious sheetmaterial.

6. A construction as defined in claim 5, in which .said hems at the sideedges of said sheets are formed by binding tape folded over therespective edges of said sheets.

KARL F. SCI-ILEGEL, JR.

REFERENCES CITED .The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 563,644 Birney July 7, 1896677,010 Ziller June 25, 1901 788,489 Moore Apr. '25, 1905 1,591,721Melvin July 5, 926 2,474,699 Silbert et a1 June 28,, 1949

